Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

Combined limits where parliamentary election pending

9 (1) This paragraph imposes—

(a) in the circumstances mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), a limit in relation to—

(i) such a pending parliamentary general election as is mentioned in that sub-paragraph, and

(ii) an election, or elections, in relation to which the limit imposed by any of paragraphs 4 to 8 would otherwise apply as mentioned in that sub-paragraph; and

(b) in the circumstances mentioned in sub-paragraph (5), limits in relation to—

(i) two such pending parliamentary elections as are mentioned in that sub-paragraph, and

(ii) an election, or elections, in relation to which the limit imposed by any of paragraphs 4 to 8 would otherwise apply as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) Where a parliamentary general election is pending during any part of the period in relation to which a limit imposed by any of paragraphs 4 to 8 would otherwise apply to controlled expenditure incurred by or on behalf of a recognised third party in a particular part of the United Kingdom—

(a) neither that paragraph, nor paragraph 3, shall apply in relation to such expenditure; and

(b) the limit imposed by this paragraph shall apply to it instead.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (5) to (7), the limit applying to controlled expenditure which is incurred by or on behalf of the recognised third party in the relevant period for the purposes of this sub-paragraph in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (as the case may be) is the aggregate of—

(a) the limit which by virtue of paragraph 3 would (apart from this paragraph) apply to such expenditure incurred in that part of the United Kingdom during the relevant period for the purposes of that paragraph; and

(b) the limit which by virtue of paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 would (apart from this paragraph) apply to such expenditure incurred in that part of the United Kingdom during the relevant period for the purposes of that paragraph.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) “the relevant period” is—

(a) where the parliamentary general election takes place at the same time as, or later than—

(i) the election in relation to which paragraph 4, 5, 6 or 7 would otherwise apply, or

(ii) (as the case may be) the later of the elections in relation to which paragraph 8 would otherwise apply,

the period which for the purposes of paragraph 3 is the relevant period in relation to the parliamentary general election;

(b) where the parliamentary general election takes place earlier than the election mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii), the period which—

(i) begins at the beginning of the period mentioned in paragraph (a), and

(ii) ends with the date of the poll for the later, or (where paragraph 8 would otherwise apply) the last, of the elections.

(5) Where two parliamentary general elections are pending during different parts of any such period as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), the limits applying to controlled expenditure which is incurred by or on behalf of the recognised third party in the relevant periods in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (as the case may be) are as follows—

(a) in the case of expenditure incurred in the first relevant period, the limit is the aggregate of—

(i) the limit which by virtue of paragraph 3 would (apart from this paragraph) apply, in connection with the first of the parliamentary general elections to take place, to such expenditure incurred in that part of the United Kingdom during the relevant period for the purposes of that paragraph, and

(ii) the limit mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b) above; and

(b) in the case of expenditure incurred in the second relevant period, the limit is the limit which by virtue of paragraph 3 would (apart from this paragraph) apply, in connection with the second parliamentary general election to take place, to such expenditure incurred in that part of the United Kingdom during the relevant period for the purposes of that paragraph.

(6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5) “the first relevant period” is the period which—

(a) begins at the beginning of the period which would, apart from this paragraph, apply for the purposes of paragraph 3 to the first of the parliamentary general elections to take place; and

(b) ends with the date on which Her Majesty’s intention to dissolve Parliament is announced in connection with the second of the parliamentary general elections to take place.

(7) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5) “the second relevant period” is the period which—

(a) begins on the day after the date mentioned in sub-paragraph (6)(b) above; and

(b) ends with whichever is the later of the following, namely—

(i) the date of the poll for the second parliamentary general election to take place; and

(ii) the date of the poll for the election in relation to which paragraph 4, 5, 6 or 7 would otherwise apply or, as the case may be, the date of the poll for the later of the elections in relation to which paragraph 8 would otherwise apply.